Automatic train pipe connecter head



Nov. 14, 1933. e. E. BALDWIN 1,935,258

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE CONNECTER HEAD I Original Filed June 21, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 1 NVENTOR ATTORNEYS Nov. 14, 1933. wm 1,935,258

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE CONNECTER HEAD Original Filed'June 21, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR m M ATTZJRNEYS Patented Nov. 14, 1933 UNITEDSTATES Canada Application June 21, 1928, Serial No. 287,250 RenewedOctober 14, 1932 r 4 Claims.

My invention relates to automatic trainpipe connecter heads Among theobjects is to provide a coupling head of the pin and funnel type inwhich the gathering range may be substantir ally varied withoutdestroying interchange with previous heads of the same type. Thisadvantage is attained by placing the usual fluid conduit in the head,and by disposing the coupling face of the head obliquely to thelongitudinal direction of the connecter, and with the face of theconduit, and the coupling face, of the head, in the plane of one wall ofthe funnel. The construction is simple, compact, and very effective. Inthe drawings I f Figure l is a sectional plan view of a pair of myimproved coupling heads in the coupled position. One of the heads has asubstantially greater gathering range than the other.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the construc-- tions shown in Fig Figure3 is a front view of the coupling head having the increased gatheringrange A hereinafter described. In this view the fitting 9 is omitted,and

Figure 4 is a detail of the plunger pin 12.

My improved coupling head 5 may be supported from the car coupler by anydesired form of support 6. The head consists of a funnel 7 on one sideof the longitudinal centre line of the connecter and in the rear of thevertical centre of the coupling face of the head, and a forwardlyextending prong or pin 8 on the opposite side of the longitudinal centerline of the connecter, and in advance of the vertical centre of thecoupling face of the head. As appears particularly in Figure 1, theconduit 9 passes through the head obliquely to the longitudinaldirection of the connecter. It is mounted in an opening 10, Figure 3,formed between the webs 11 of the pin 8 (a pin construction which may bedescribed as hollow). A spring actuated plunger or pin 12, seeespecially Figure 4, passes downwardly through the hollow shank of thehead through the lug 14 on the fitting 9 which lug lies in the hollowshank, and removably holds the fitting in place. A suitable gasket 15 ismounted in the forward end of the fitting, the gasket preferably beingof the expansible type and having an interior annular groove whichreceives the compressed air, thereby forcing the front portion of thegasket forward against a mating gasket.

As shown particularly in Figure 1, the coupling face of my improvedhead, and the front face of the fitting 9, are in substantially theplane PATENT oFFICEf 1 of the inner wall -.of the funnels, '7. This isan important advantage. It permits the funnel '7 to be built up, that islengthened, until the plane of the face thereof is practically in'theplane 'of the vertical centre of the front end of 'the fitting 9. Thefunnel thus lengthened or built up is shown at A in Figure 1. Anincrease in the gathering range of the coupling head of as much as 2inches in all directions may be attained in this manner withoutadversely affecting interchange with. previous heads.

When in the coupled position shown in Figure 1, the pins 80f my improvedcoupling heads rest in sockets 16 formed in the apex of the funnels, asillustrated; These sockets are preferably of approximately the depthshown, and inasmuch as mated heads cannot rock? one upon. the otherwhilethe pins 8 are held in these sockets by the pressure of the spring17, the sockets and the pins constitute interlocking means forpreventing relative movement of the mated coupling heads. The jointformed between a pair of these improved heads is therefore immovablyrigid so long as the cars remain coupled.

To permanently carry a suitable interchange for coupling a car nothaving the connecter to one equipped with it, I provide a perforated lug18 on the underside of the head. A desirable form of interchange,similarly connected, shown in my co-pending application, Serial No.229,235, filed October 27, 1927.

What I claim is:

1. A connecter head having a pin on one side and'a funnel on the otherside of the longitudinal center line thereof, and also having a portionprovided with a flat coupling face which lies on mating head, ,a conduitmounted in said opening 2. In a connecter head having a pin on one:

side and a funnel on the other side of the longitudinal center linethereof, and also having a portion provided with a flat coupling facewhich lies on both sides of said longitudinal center line, said portionhaving an opening arranged in substantially the longitudinal center lineof the head, said funnel having its apex extending rearwardly from saidface and the inclined surface thereof being substantially straight andmerging with and lying in the same plane as said face, said pinextending forwardly from said face and having a cross-sectionalarea'substantially less than the cross-sectional area of said funnel,said pin having its front end rounded to interlock with the apex of thefunnel in a mating head, a conduit mounted in said opening andarrangedat substantially a right angle to said face, said'conduit having aperforated lug thereon, said head having a recess for receiving saidlug, a springpressed latch carried by said head and extendingtransversely of said recess for engaging the perforation in said lug,said conduit being removable rearwardly from said opening when saidlatch isdisengaged from said lug.

3. In combination, a connecter head having a pin on one side and afunnel on the other side of the longitudinal center line of the head andalso having a portion provided with a flat coupling face which lies onboth sides of said longitudinal center line, said portion having anopening therein arranged in substantially the longitudinal center lineof the head, a supporting shank for said head extending-rearwardlythereof on substantially said center line of the head, a coiled springcarried by said shank for pressing said head against a mating head, saidfunnel having its apex extending rearwardly from said face and theinclined surface thereof being substantially straight and merging withand lying in the same plane as said face, said pin extending forwardlyfrom said face and having a cross-sectional area substantially less thanthe cross-sectional area of said funnel, said pin having its front endrounded to interlock with the apex of the funnel in a mating head, aconduit mounted in said opening and arranged at substantially a rightangle to said face, said conduit having a perforated lug thereon, saidhead having a recess for receiving said lug, a spring-pressed latchcarried by said headand extending transversely of said recess forengaging the perforation in said lug, said conduit being removablerearwardly from said opening when said latch is disengaged from saidlug.

4. In combination, an automatic train pipe connecter head having a pinon one side and a funnel on the other side of the longitudinal centerline of the head and also having a portion provided with a flat couplingface which extends diagonally of the longitudinal center line of thehead and which lies on both sides of said line, said fiat portion havingan opening therein arranged in substantially the longitudinal centerline of the head, said head back of said opening being provided with arecess, a portion of which is formed with spaced walls, a supportingshank for said head extending rearwardly therefrom on substantially thecenter line thereof, a coiled spring carried by said shank for pressingsaid head against the mating head, a conduit mounted in said opening inthe head and projecting rear- Wardly thereof at substantially a rightangle to said flat face, said conduit on one side having a lug adaptedto fit between said spaced walls of said recess, and a latch engagingsaid walls and said lug for locking the conduit in said recess.

GEORGE E. BALDWIN.

